Plans to plant thousands of trees on a historic Perthshire battlefield have been met with a storm of protest.
Up to 1,000 men died or were wounded at Sheriffmuir in 1715, one of the last major battles fought on British soil.
For the past 300 years the site where Jacobite forces clashed with government troops has lain largely undisturbed, but now a proposal has been drawn up to plant 115 hectares of land east of Dunblane.
Virginia Wills, who lives close to the battlefield at Glentye, has been mobilising forces against the plan and has written to heritage bodies, local politicians and clan societies to alert them to the plan.
“Rather sadly, in the week that we have all been remembering those who fell in the battles of the Somme and in other conflicts, we consider responding by planting a commercial forest on those who have fallen in battle closer to home,” said Mrs Wills who said the site was on a par with Culloden.
“We can hardly believe that anyone would want to destroy a historic site of such importance.
“It was among the first to be included in Historic Scotland’s Inventory of Battlefields, prepared with the purpose of reminding planners and developers that it is a site to be protected.
“The battlefield is also a burial ground for those who fell in the conflict and is visited by thousands whose ancestors fought in the battle or who are simply well-informed about Scotland’s history.
“It is unthinkable that one Scotland’s most important historic sites should be devastated.”
The environmental impact statement concedes that “the woodland creation proposal falls wholly within the Sheriffmuir battlefield site which was a major consideration in the development of the woodland design”.
The report claims that the planting would be helpful in finding out more about the battle.
“Ground preparation will disturb some 30% of the planting area providing an opportunity for metal detection surveys that are currently constrained by dense vegetation,” it says.
“This is intended to recover any information pertaining to the Battle of Sheriffmuir. This phase will be under the strict supervision of professional archaeologists.
“In summary, there will be a negligible impact upon cultural heritage remains as a result of woodland planting but an opportunity will arise to better understand buried remains associated with the battlefield.
“All cultural heritage remains within the planting zone will be marked by a qualified archaeologist prior to project implementation and protected by an appropriate buffer zone and on-going site monitoring.”
Objectors have been urged to contact Forestry Commission Scotland, Upper Battleby, Redgorton, Perth PHl 3EN or by e-mail at panda.cons@forestry.gsi.gov.uk by December 15.
